When players suit up for this year’s bocce ball tournament at Juniper Valley Park, they’ll have Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley to thank for the newly resurfaced courts.

The age-old game is popular among local Italian-Americans, many of whom appeared alongside Crowley at the courts October 5 to endorse her in the race for the 30th Council District seat.

Crowley is running for re-election against Tom Ognibene, who held the seat in the 1990’s. The district covers Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.

The area’s two leading Italian-American organizations - the Italian-American Federation of Brooklyn and Queens, and the Italian-American Federation of Greater New York -threw their support behind Crowley, as did 50 other notable Italian-American community leaders.

“Elizabeth Crowley’s support for the Italian-American community has been unrivaled,” said Mario Malerba, chair of the Italian-American Federation of Brooklyn and Queens. “Her leadership as City Council Member is just what our community needs in order to grow and to improve our quality of life,”

Since taking office in January, Crowley has steered $352,00 in city funding for the resurfacing of Juniper Valley Park’s bocce courts.

She also helped raise $20,000 for the victims of an earthquake that struck the Italian town of L’Aquila, and marched as the grand marshall in a street festival honoring the patron saint of Sicily.

Crowley has also allocated funding to the district’s two leading Italian-American organizations.

“I believe Elizabeth Crowley is the best candidate for job and I fully support her re-election to the City Council to represent our community,” said Peter Cardella, of the Italian Federation of Greater New York. “As council member for only a short time, she has done a terrific job.”

Crowley thanked her supporters.

“In City Council, I will continue to stand up for the Italian-Americans, who contribute to the richness and diversity of our neighborhoods,” Crowley said, “and I promise to continue to deliver results.” (Daniel Bush)